Headlight-dimmer



L. D. BUTTER.

HEADLIGHT DIMMERI APPLICATION FILED AUG-14' 1919.

Patented J an. 4, 1921.

TIE 1i- WWW I l2. Z1 24 2%67 WWO L. D. BUTTER HEADLIGH T DIMMER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 14. 1919.

1,364,812. I Patented Jan. 4,1921.-

Q Q/ m Ki 1 Q l l7 Eli Q\3 aw i Q o I w w 1 L I= L mM M @N Q Q Q. Q) Q oi Q M Q Q om'reo STATES LAWRENCE 1). BUTTER, or

WESTI IELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIIIGITOR OF ONE-HALF TO GERT RUDE L BUTTER.

HEADLIGHT-lawman.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE D. BUTTER, -a citizen of the United States, residing at Westfield, in the county. of Hampden and 5 State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Headlight-Dimmers; and I do declare the follow-. ing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in headlight dimmers and more particularly to those employing a plurality of louvers, the present application being in part a continuation of my S. applicatlon, Serial No. 293,978, filed May 1, 1919.

One object of the invention is to provide novel louvers arranged and operated in a novel manner for either allowing the beam of light'to be thrown directly ahead, or for directing an'equal volume of light downwardly onto the road and ahead so that the highest ray of the beam of light does'not reach a point above a horizontal plane approximately in line with the upper edge or the upper swinging louver of the upper set. Another object is to prevent the "escape of light rays from the reflector around the ends or edges of'the louvers when the latter are in deflecting position.

A further object is to provide louvers constructed in a novel manner to deflect the rays of iight downwardly. A still further object is to provide a device of the character set forth which may be easily and inexpensively manufactured and marketed, yet one which will be highly efiicient and in every way desirable. With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and shown in the accompanying drawings. J at Figure 1 is a transverse section of aheadlight equipped with the improved dimmer, showing the louvers in open position.

Fig. .2 is a vertical section on the plane of line 2'-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section showing the louvers in defiectingposition. V i

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the plane indicated by line 4 -41: of Fig. 3.

Figs. 5 and 6 are transverse sections Specification of Letters Patent.

through one of the upper louvers, constructed in different ways.

the lower louvers.

In the drawings above briefly described, the numeral 1 designates a ring-like frame preferably formed of a frustum of a hollow cone, I said frame being in most instances stamped from sheet metal. A plurality of louvers are mounted in the frame 1 and are .adapted to be swung to horizontal positions as in Figs. 1 and 2 to permit the beam of light to be projected straight ahead from the headlight, or to be inclined as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 for directing the beam of light downwardly on the road. When the louvers are in deflecting position, it is essential that no direct or reflected rays be visible above a plane approximately in line with the source of light, and I have found that if all of the louvers swing in the same direction, it is impossible to shape their endswin such manner as to prevent leakage of rays around said ends when the louvers are inclined for deflecting the rays downwardly. To overcome this difiiculty, I employ upper and lower sets of louvers, offset the axes of one set forwardly with respect to those of the other set, and provide means for simultaneously swin ing one set'of louvers upwardly and the ot er set downwardly. This permits the ends of all of the louvers to move into tight contact with the frame or ring 1 when said louvers are inclined as in Figs. 3 anda, .and thus no light rays can escape around the ends of saidlouvers.

In the present showing, the'upper set of louvers is indicated by the numeral 2 and the lower set is referred to by the character 3,

said louvers 2 being pivoted at their front edges to swing upwardly. from horizontal positions, while the louvers 3 are pivoted at their rear'edges to swing downwardly from the horizontal. By this relation, the properly contoured ends 4 of the louvers will all strike the frame 1 when 'd louvers are inclined (see Fig. 3) and co sequently no leakage of rays will take place around the ends of said louvers.

The upper set of louvers is shown occupying the greater portion of the upper part of the frame 1 while the louvers 3 occupy the lower part thereof, andwhen said'louvers Patented Jan. 4, 1921. Application filed August 14, 1919. Serial No. 317,544. I I

Figs. 7 and 8 are similar views ofone of i ioo are in horizontal position the pivot of the lower louver of the upper set and the pivot of the upper louver of the lower set are spaced apart so that when the louvers are in horizontal position, the aforesaid two louvers will come inas close relation as possible and yet have their respective upper reflecting surfaces parallel. The uppermost of the lower set of louvers may well be provided with a flange 5 which prevents the direct forward escape of light rays when the louvers are in the deflecting position illustrated in Fig. 4:. The portion of the frame 1 above the upper set of louvers may well be occupied by a fixed louver 2.

I intend that the lower surfaces of the two sets of louvers shall be silvered or of some similar character, while the upper surfaces of said louvers may be of any color, although brass or gold is desired; and all of these surfaces except the lower surface of the lowermost louver 3 and possibly the upper surface of the louver 2, will be suitably polished to readily reflect the rays of light from the usual reflector R. By this arrangement, when the louvers are inclined, the rays of light from the reflector will strike the silvered or other reflecting lower surfaces of said louvers and will be reflected downwardly onto the up er surfaces of the louvers directly beneath. These upper surfaces reflect the rays forwardly and according to the relative angle which the two reflecting surfaces form to each other, may be controlled so that the highest ray from the main beam of light does not reach a point from the road which is above the upper edge of the upper swinging louver of the upper set and such light will not blind the drivers of approaching vehicles and is directed in a manner to comply with all laws.

To throw the light downward which is not possible when the upper surface of each louver is parallel with the lower surface of the louver directly above, I dispose these surfaces in rearwardly converging relation as emphasized by the two "lines L of Fig. 4. By this arrangement, the raysiof light strike the lower surfaces of the louvers at a more acute angle in relation to this surface than otherwise and are deflected from said surfaces at the same angle in relation to this reflecting surface, strike the upper'surfaces of the louvers below more acutely in relation to this reflecting surface than would otherwise take place and consequently leave said upper surfaces in a direction which insuresthat no blinding eflect shall be produced above-a point from the road which is level with the upper edge of the upper swinging louver of the upper set.

' The louvers, as shown, comprise upper "and lower metal leaves 19 and 20 forming reflecting surfaces.

In Fig. 5, one of the louvers 2 is shown, constructed of a single sheet of metal, said sheet being folded substantially upon itself at 21 to form convergin upper and lower leaves 19 and 20. The e ges of these leaves remote from thebend 21 are secured together by clenching one of the leaves around the other and at the same time forming a tubular bead 21. Fig. 6 discloses one manner of forming the louvers 2 from two separate sheets of metal, one of said sheets forming the upper leaf 19 while the other sheet constitutes the lower leaf 20. The edges of the leaves 19 and 20 are secured together by clenching as shown at 21 and 21, and the latter connection forms also a tubular bead. The construction shown in Fig. 6 is illustrated inthe general views.

- In Fig. 7, I have shown one of the louvers 3 formed from a single metal plate bent upon itself at 21 to form the upper and lower leaves 19 and 20 The edges of the leaves 19 and 20 are suitably secured together opposite the bend 21 and are provided with an appropriate tubular bead 21. In Fig. 8, one of the louvers 3 is shown constructed of two separate sheets of metal constituting upper and lower leaves 19 and 20, the edges of said leaves being secured together by clenching as shown at 21 and 21, the latter connection forming also a tubular bead.

leaves 19 and 20 must be highly polished or otherwise treated to reflect the rays of light in the required manner, and if desired the upper and lower surfaces may be of different colors; For instance the lower reflecting surface formed on leaf 20 may be finished in some silver color and the upper reflecting surface formed. on leaf 19 may be of a yellow or gold color. Thus, when the two surfaces are polished, the lower surface will present a silvered reflecting upper surface and the upper surface will possess a gold like surface which will soften the rays of light without decreasing the strength of the beam. Although any adequate means could be employed for operating the louvers 2 and 3, I prefer to use the arr'a'ngementshown. A lever 6 is fulcrumed between its ends at one side of the frame 1, preferably. at the lowe side of said frame,'and although said lev is shown mountedon an ear 7, it could we be fulcrumed in i any preferred manner. Suitable linkage connects one end of lever 6 with one set of louvers, while other linkage isemployed to connect the other end of saidlever with the other set of louvers. This linkage may vary as occasion maydictate,

- but for ease and inexpensive manufacture, I refer to connect the free front edges of the ower louvers 3 by a wire 8, while the rear edges of the upper louvers 2 are similarly 6 connected by a wire 9. The louvers are formed with openings (see Fig. 3) and the wires 8 and 9 are looped through said openings as indicated at 11. A wirelink l2 depends from the lowermost louver 2 to 10 the'rear end of the lever 6, the upper end of tend through the usual glass lens or through the headlight casing, as desired.

The dimmer may be installed in numerous forms of headlights and may of course be constructed in different sizes and in some in- 26 stances the device may well be built into the headlight as manufactured, in which case the reflector or some other suitable part would set as the frame 1 for supporting the louvers. In the construction shown, the 80 frame 1 diverges rearwardly to a noticeable extent with respect to the reflector and this serves to prevent the possible escape of objectionable reflected rays from the headlight reflector below the lowermost of the louvers $5 3. The inner side of the frame 1 does not constitute a reflecting surface nor does the lower side of the lowermost louver and consequently no blinding rays. will be reflected from these Parts. .The contracted rear end to of the frame 1 is shown provided with spring tongues 23 which are bent so as to form a yielding contact with the reflector B. This detail of construction permits one size of dimmer to be installed upon headlights of slightly varying sizes and upon those in which the reflector possesses different curvatures.

The entire device may beeasily and inexpensively manufactured and marketed, may be easily installed, and will be higgly efficient and in every way desirable. lar attention is directed to the fact that the two sets of louversswingjin opposite directions; to the rearwardly converging'reflects5 ing surfaces of the adjacent louvers; to the novel construction and operating means of said louvers; and to the arrangement of spring tongues for centering the dimmer in reflectors of different sizes and shapes. so These several features are by preference carried out in the manner shown, but within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous minor-changes may well be made.

I claim: 1. In a headlight dimmer, a frame, two

articusets of horizontally pivoted louversin'rsaid frame, and means for simultaneously swinging the louvers of the two sets in opposite directions.

-2. In aheadlight dimmer, a frame formed of a frustum of a hollow cone, an upper set of louvers in said frame pivoted at their front edges to swing upwardly from horizontal positions, a lower set of louvers in said frame pivoted at their rear edges to swing downwardly from horizontal positions, and means for simultaneously operating the two sets of louvers.

3. In a headlight dimmer, a frame, a plurality of sets of louvers in said frame, the pivots of each set being laterally offset fromthose of the next set, a lever fulcrumed between its ends at one side of said frame, linkage connecting the front edges of the lower louvers with the front end of said 85. lever, additional linkage connecting the rear edges of the upper louvers with the rear end of said lever, and means for operating said lever.

4. In a headlight dimmer, a circular frame, an upper set of louvers in said frame pivoted at their front edges to swing upwardly from horizontal positions, a lower set of louvers in said frame pivoted at their rear edges to swing downwardly from horizontal positions, the free edges of all of said louvers having openings, 'wires looped through the openings of the two sets of louvers for moving them in unison, a lever fulcrumed at the lower side of the frame and operatively connected to the lower set of louvers, a wire connecting said lever with the upper set of louvers, and m sans for operating said lever.

5. In a headlight dimmer, a frame, upper and lower sets of pivoted louvers having refleeting surfaces on their upper and lower sides, the upper reflecting surface of each louver converging rearwardly with the lower reflecting surface of the louver directly above, and means for simultaneously swinging one set of louvers upwardly and the other set downwardly.

6. In a headlight dimmer, a frame, and a plurality of vertically spaced louvers mounted in said frame, each louver having reflecting surfaces on its upper and lower sides diverging rearwardly with respect to each other, whereby the upper reflecting surface of each louver is disposed in rearwardly conver ing relation withrthe lower reflecting sur ace of the louver directly above.

7 In a headli-ght dimmer, a frame, and a plurality of vertically spaced louvers mounted therein, each louver being formed of thin sheet metal and having rearwardly diverging upper and lower reflecting surfaces.

8. In a headlight dimmer, a frame, a plurality of sheet metal louvers in said frame formed of upper and lower leaves formed with reflecting surfaces, said leaves diverging rearwardly and secured together at their edges, one leaf of each louver being bent at one edge to form a bead, and pivots carried 5 by said frame and received in the beads of the several louvers.

9. In a headlight dimmer, a frame formed of a frustum of a hollow cone, said frame being adapted for reception in the reflector [0 of a headlight, spring tongues on the rear edges of said frame shaped to form a yielding contact with the reflector, upper and lower sets of pivoted louvers mounted in said frame, and means for simultaneously swinging one set of louvers upwardly and 16 the other set downwardly.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

LAWRENCE D. BUTTER. 

